The Outsider by Stephen King

June 15th, 2018 Kimberly Review 52 Comments

15th Jun
The Outsider by Stephen King
The Outsider
by Stephen King
Narrator: Will Patton
Length: 18 hours and 39 minutes
Genres: Horror, Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Narration: 5 cups

An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories.

An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.

As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.

2018 Fave Fave Narrator well written HORRIFIC

The Outsider by Stephen King was an intense and creeptastic tale that renewed my faith in King, The audiobook narrated by Will Patton, drew me in as a man with a rock-solid alibi finds himself accused of a heinous crime.

I am a longtime fan of Stephen King and can recall reading his works as a prepubescent adolescent by flashlight. From The Shining to Lawnmower man and works he did with Peter Straub, King has long accompanied me on my reading journey. Last year Sleeping Beauties was an utter failure for me and I went into The Outsider with apprehension. It wasn’t necessary; I was hooked within the first chapter and King delivered all the elements I love about his books.

Five Reasons to Grab your Headphones and Listen to The Outsider

  • The quiet town of Flint City is rocked when a stellar member of their community is arrested for a heinous crime involving the violated and murder of an eleven-year-old boy. Eyewitness accounts and DNA evidence place him at the scene. However, family man, Terry Maitland, a little league coach, and popular English teacher has an alibi. Is he a clever killer or is something else at play? Chilling right?  The Outsider had so many elements that draw me to Stephen King again and again. The man can spin a story and his characters though flawed become real. While I am no longer that little girl reading King by flashlight he still makes me believe in the impossible and hear things go bump in the night.
  • Detective Ralph Anderson, orders a quick and very public arrest. As Maitland continues to claim his innocence, Anderson struggles. His got tells him this man who once coached his son is telling the truth. But DNA evidence doesn’t lie or does it? Anderson continues to investigate even though the DA says they’ve got their man. Twists, turns and discoveries held me spellbound.
  • King wove a brilliant tapestry of uncertainty, mystery, magic and folklore as the narrative unfolded. His characters are complex, flawed and realistic. He tapped into morality, disbelief and guilt. The public arrest of Maitland sits heavy on Anderson’s chest.
  • Holly, Holly, Holly! Fans of the Mr. Mercedes series *raises a hand and shouts ME!* will be excited to see Holly Gibney,  Bill Hodges’ assistant become involved in the case. Her storyline and how it tangles and joins with Anderson’s was superb, creeptastic and all King.
  • Will Patton narrates and has done several of King’s novels. I admire this narrator. Seriously, he could recite the phone book and I would remain attentive listening. His voices soothes even as he makes the hair on the back of your neck rise delivering the low suspenseful build up King is famous for. He gives each character a unique and identifiable voice and captures their emotions. Through tone he creates an addition layer of suspense and fear.

 

The Outsider combined suspense, a murder-mystery and lore to deliver a spine-tingling tale you won’t soon forget!

Grab your earbuds and travel to Flint City as Stephen King shares his newest spine-tingling tale THE OUTSIDER. Will Patton delivers a brilliant narration. Top 10 #Audio Favorite for 2018 #JIAM #loveaudiobooks Share on X
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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52 Responses to “The Outsider by Stephen King”

  3. verushka

    Uncertainty, mystery, magic and folklore? I have been looking forward to this one, but honestly did not expect this combination! You have me more curious than ever!

  4. Michelle Gilmore

    This sounds like a good one, and I’m glad to see you enjoyed it! I have heard a lot of people were disappointed with Sleeping Beauties, so I’m glad to see he delivered with this one.
    I am currently in a group on Litsy that is reading his works, it’s looking to be a literal ten-year endeavor, lol. But I have read three of his books so far, and I’m loving it.

  5. ShootingStarsMag

    I’ve only read a couple King books, but some of his newer ones sound really good like the Mr. Mercedes series and now this one. I’m so glad to hear you loved this one!

    -Lauren

  6. Ethan

    I can’t wait to read this one. I’m excited to see that Holly is in it. I haven’t read End of Watch yet. Does her character being in this one spoil anything from the Mr. Mercedes Trilogy?

    Ethan recently posted: Cross Kill by James Patterson

  7. Ailyn Koay

    oh gee, there are a few ways one can plant evidence, creepy but probably a very well thought out plan to frame someone…. for the record, I haven’t read it. just a suspicion

  9. Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library

    I finally gave Stephen King a try this year with the audio of A Good Marriage earlier this year and the unsettling normalcy/crazy creepiness of it really amazed me. I want to try another book and this sounds like one to try though I suspect it will keep me from wanting my son to get out of my sight!

  10. sjhigbee

    This is a great review, Kimberly. I don’t think this one is for me – but I will be sampling audiobooks this summer, when I get a tad more time once I break up for the summer:).

    • Kimberly

      I use to own all of them in hardcover, but he has such awesome narrators, I grab them all that way now 🙂

  16. Anne

    Steven King is so witty and reasonable on Twitter. But I just don’t do horror. I’m sure it’s a great book.

  17. Carrie

    I almost bought this very book this morning. I have a lot of his books but I haven’t read one of his in a long time. I must think about this one again. Love the review.

  19. Aj @ Read All The Things!

    Ooh, I want this book so much! I should just buy myself a copy and stop pining over it. I haven’t read any Stephen King so far this year. I’m glad you liked the book! Great review!

  21. Rita @ View From the Books

    Now that I’m living back in Maine, I realize that King is King here! His books are everywhere! I passed on the last few books of his– Sleeping Beauties and the Mr. Mercedes series. I loved early King stories and found some of his newer ones so “out there” weird. But this one appeals to me as a throwback to earlier works. I may be wrong, but you enjoyed it so I’ll give it a go. My husband actually has it, but hasn’t read it yet because he’s not–gasp– a hardcore reader!

    • Kimberly

      Happy reading. I love Maine. We’ve visited a few times but dang it gets cold there in the winter.

  22. Debbie Haupt

    Ok Kim I may just have to dig out the plastic for this one, I too like Patton’s narrations and this has got my kind of book written all over it. Thanks I can alway rely on your reviews to tell me what I need to know but not spoil anything for me. xo Happy weekend!